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Next of Kin

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Next of Kin

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Jack Holden
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

1936: London is abuzz with gossip about the affair between Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson. But the king is not the only member of the aristocracy with a hard decision to make. Owen Montignac, the handsome and charismatic descendent of a wealthy land-owning family, is anxiously awaiting the reading of his late uncle's will. For Owen has run up huge gambling debts and casino boss Nicholas Delfy has given him a choice: find £50,000 by Christmas - or find yourself six feet under.

So when Owen discovers that he has been cut out of the will in favour of his beautiful cousin Stella, it is time to prove just how cunning he can be.... And Owen is nothing if not inventive - even a royal crisis can provide the means for profit. And for murder....

©2012 John Boyne (P)2020 Penguin Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant  
Jack Holden narrates this historical novel by John Boyne with exceptional flair. The time is 1946 where Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson are scandalising the nation and Stanley Baldwin the Prime Minister is getting anxious.

The plot centres around Owen Montignac, a young man who finds himself in a perilous situation after his uncle's death. With massive gambling debts looming over him, Owen's fate hinges on the reading of his uncle's will. However, the outcome isn't in his favour and desperate times lead to desperate measures.

Boyne weaves historical events, into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story and lending a great saga quality to the tale unfolding. This is not just a tale of suspense and intrigue; it's exploration of human nature, ambition, and the lengths one will go to secure their future. John Boyne's storytelling prowess shines through, making this novel a must-read for fans of historical fiction and family sagas alike.

What a tale!

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I love John Boyne's writing and this didn't disappoint. I found the plot gripping and most of the characters real (Owen was perhaps a bit too nasty). Coming from a legal family, I picked up a few errors in his account of the British courts and judicial system, so his researchers get a thumbs down and the loss of a star for me. I don't know if the sub-plot around Edward and Wallace is historically accurate, but it provided an interesting backdrop to the main story. This book was well narrated and I would recommend it as highly worth an Audible credit. I did a lot of gardening to prolong my listening episodes!

Facinating

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Author’s previous books I have read have ended satisfyingly but this I feel was a weak ending. It was too predictable and barely worth reading. It might even have been better to omit it. Author is usually so good at finding a way through without choosing the obvious.

Ending disappointing

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My favourite author but this certainly isn’t one of his best - it has shades of Saltburn

Good story but unbelievable

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Another solid novel by Boyne and although it won’t go down as my favourite, it’s still a jolly good read. Aristocracy meets criminality in very British society of the 1930s, with big characters, big ideas and big debt. We even get to meet Edward and Mrs Simpson. This book contains Boyne’s usual sharp wit and cynicism and works very well as an audiobook.

An entertaining listen

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Gripping story but I was expecting a different ending and felt it was a bit rushed? This could have a sequel book as Owen could get found out and there were some unanswered questions that could come back to haunt him.
It was very interesting to hear about those times though especially with the scandal of Edward & Mrs.Simpson.

Gripping with surprising end.

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A few jarring moments (Milton Keynes and plastic chairs?) main gripe is with the outcome. There was ample opportunity to deliver a more just ending.

Dissatisfying ending

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Superb character development and weaving together to make a gripping story, hard to listen to at times but utterly compelling.

Another brilliant Boyne novel.

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Well worth patience for the plot to open. What an author developed from this first novel!

Slow Burner

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I almost gave up with this story but so glad I didn’t. Apologies to John Boyne for doubting him. Once the plot thickened it was hard to put down.

Slow start, dramatic finish

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